Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi will hold a joint telephone call on Friday with his French, British and German counterparts to discuss stalled nuclear talks and the threat of renewed sanctions, Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported.
The three European powers have warned they could trigger the United Nations’ “snapback” mechanism, which would reinstate international sanctions on Iran, if Tehran refuses to return to negotiations over its nuclear programme.
Western governments, alongside the United States, argue Iran’s nuclear activities could provide a pathway to developing weapons.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), however, has said Iran remains far from building a nuclear bomb. In March, U.S. National Intelligence Director Tulsi Gabbard also testified that intelligence agencies had not found evidence of Tehran actively pursuing nuclear weapons.
Talks collapsed in June after U.S. and Israeli strikes targeted Iranian nuclear facilities. Since then, IAEA inspectors have been barred from accessing Iran’s sites, a move IAEA chief Rafael Grossi has repeatedly called unacceptable.
Iran’s state broadcaster said Araqchi’s discussions with the European ministers will include the possibility of the snapback mechanism being invoked. It also confirmed that an Iranian delegation will travel to Vienna on Friday for talks with IAEA officials, though details of the agenda were not disclosed.
The outcome of Friday’s call could prove critical for the future of the 2015 nuclear deal framework, already weakened by years of mistrust, regional tensions and repeated setbacks in diplomacy.
Written By Rodney Mbua
